When dealing with anything official in South Africa, start with the official website: Home Affairs (DHA) for visas and permits, SARS for tax, CIPC for companies, the Reserve Bank for exchange control and remittances, and the financial ombud for bank and insurance complaints. Below are the main South African government and regulator websites by topic, plus the Chinese Embassy and consulates (as of October 2026). Scam sites often imitate official ones; South African government department addresses usually end in gov.za, so check the address before paying anything.
Chinese Embassy and consulates
| Organisation | Website | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese Embassy, Pretoria | za.china-embassy.gov.cn | Documents and consular protection for Pretoria, North West, Limpopo, Mpumalanga |
| Chinese Consulate-General, Johannesburg | johannesburg.china-consulate.gov.cn | Gauteng (except Pretoria), Free State |
| Chinese Consulate-General, Cape Town | capetown.china-consulate.gov.cn | Western, Northern and Eastern Cape |
| Chinese Consulate-General, Durban | durban.china-consulate.gov.cn | KwaZulu-Natal |
| China Consular Service (MFA) | cs.mfa.gov.cn | Passports, travel documents, safety alerts, 12308 hotline |
Addresses, districts and phone numbers are on our Chinese Embassy and consulates page.
Government: visas, tax, companies, labour
| Organisation | Website | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| South African Government portal | www.gov.za | Gateway to all departments, policies and notices |
| Department of Home Affairs (DHA) | www.dha.gov.za | Visas, permits, permanent residence, immigration |
| South African Revenue Service (SARS) | www.sars.gov.za | Income tax, VAT, customs |
| Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) | www.cipc.co.za | Company registration, annual returns, trademarks |
| Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) | www.thedtic.gov.za | Investment, trade policy, B-BBEE codes |
| Department of Employment and Labour | www.labour.gov.za | Labour law, minimum wage, UIF, foreign workers |
Related guides: visa section, personal income tax guide, registering a company (CIPC).
Banking, finance and consumer protection
| Organisation | Website | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| South African Reserve Bank (SARB) | www.resbank.co.za | Exchange control, interest rates, remittance rules |
| Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) | www.fsca.co.za | Check licensed financial firms, avoid investment scams |
| National Credit Regulator (NCR) | www.ncr.org.za | Credit and debt complaints, credit records |
| National Financial Ombud (NFO) | nfosa.co.za | Banking and insurance complaints |
| National Consumer Commission (NCC) | thencc.org.za | Consumer rights complaints |
| Consumer Goods and Services Ombud (CGSO) | www.cgso.org.za | Disputes over goods and services |
Health, education, transport and daily life
| Organisation | Website | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| National Department of Health | www.health.gov.za | Public health, vaccines, outbreak notices |
| SAHPRA | www.sahpra.org.za | Medicine and medical device registration |
| Department of Basic Education | www.education.gov.za | School policy and calendars |
| Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) | www.rtmc.co.za | Driving licences, vehicle registration, road rules |
| Gautrain | www.gautrain.co.za | Rail between Johannesburg, Pretoria and OR Tambo |
| South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) | www.sacaa.co.za | Aviation rules, drone regulations |
| ICASA | www.icasa.org.za | Telecoms regulation and complaints |
| Eskom | www.eskom.co.za | Load-shedding and electricity information |
| NHBRC | www.nhbrc.org.za | New-home quality and builder registration |
Travel
| Organisation | Website | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| SANParks | www.sanparks.org | National park bookings and conservation fees |
| South African Tourism | www.southafrica.net | Official tourism information |
| SAHRA | www.sahra.org.za | Heritage resources and protected sites |
Gambling regulation
| Organisation | Website | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| National Gambling Board (NGB) | www.ngb.org.za/verified-operators | Check licensed casinos and bookmakers |
| National Responsible Gambling Programme | responsiblegambling.org.za | Free helpline 0800 006 008, self-exclusion |
Only licensed land-based casinos, licensed sports betting, the National Lottery and similar are legal in South Africa; online casinos are illegal. The provincial regulators are listed on our gambling laws page.
City governments
| Organisation | Website | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| City of Johannesburg | joburg.org.za | Rates and utility accounts, municipal services |
| City of Cape Town | www.capetown.gov.za | Rates and utility accounts, municipal services |
Pretoria (City of Tshwane) and Durban (eThekwini) also have municipal websites for utility accounts and municipal services.
Emergency numbers (save these)
- Police: 10111; emergency from a mobile: 112; ambulance: 10177
- China MFA global consular hotline: +86 10 12308 or +86 10 6561 2308
- Full steps are on our emergency numbers page.
Tips for using official websites
- Check the address: the first search results may be ads or agents; stick to the official domain.
- Agents are not the government: many agencies handle visas and company registration at varying prices; official fees are those published on official sites.
- Some sites are slow: at peak times or during load-shedding they may not load; try later or visit an office.
- Keep screenshots: note reference numbers for anything you submit online.
More reference material is in our resources section.
FAQ
How can I tell if a site is a real South African government site?
Government departments mostly use addresses ending in gov.za; regulators often use .org.za or .co.za. If unsure, follow the department links from the gov.za portal.
Where do I track a visa application?
Use the channels published on the Home Affairs (DHA) website; see our visa section for the process.
What if the Chinese mission’s website will not load?
Use China Consular Service (cs.mfa.gov.cn) or the China Consular app; in an emergency, call your mission’s protection line or 12308.